MLB Player News

Lovelady (forearm) was sent to the Rays' Florida Complex League affiliate Monday to begin a rehab assignment.

Lovelady has been shelved since early June with a left forearm flexor strain but has been cleared to test things out in a game setting. The left-handed reliever has posted a 7.36 ERA and 1.36 WHIP across 7.1 innings with the Rays this season and appears poised for a return at the start of the second half.

Stewart (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday, Darren Wolfson of Channel 5 Saint Paul reports.

Stewart has been on the shelf since early May with right shoulder tendinitis but is ready to test himself in a game setting after getting through several throwing sessions without any hiccups. With a 0.66 ERA and 34.8 percent strikeout rate over 41 career innings with the Twins, Stewart will be a big boost to the bullpen once he returns, which should happen at the start of the second half.

Green (2-1) took the win Sunday against Seattle, allowing two hits and a walk with two strikeouts across a scoreless inning.

Green entered the game in the bottom of the ninth inning with the score 4-4, and although he let runners reach second and third with one out, Green was able to send the game to extra innings, where the Blue Jays would deliver Green his second victory. The 33-year-old has allowed just one run in his last 9.2 innings and has been the Blue Jays' impromptu closer in the wake of injuries to Jordan Romano (elbow) and Yimi Garcia (elbow). Prior to being shelved, Garcia was firmly ahead of Green for save chances, but with Green in the midst of an exceptional season highlighted by what would be a career-best 1.57 ERA, the closing role may no longer be as cut and dry.

Stanek blew the save Sunday against Toronto, allowing one run on two hits and a walk with a strikeout over one inning.

Stanek took the mound in the seventh inning, inheriting a pair of runners with no outs and a 4-1 lead. After striking out Kevin Kiermaier, Stanek surrendered a three-run home run to George Springer, tying the game and resulting in the blown save. Stanek briefly took closing duties from Andres Munoz in mid June while Munoz dealt with a back injury, but Stanek has since yielded ninth-inning work to Munoz.

Kimbrel picked up the save Sunday, allowing one hit and no walks with two strikeouts across a scoreless inning against Oakland.

Kimbrel has now fired seven consecutive scoreless frames, going 7-for-7 in save chances during that stretch to bring his season total up to 23 saves. The 36-year-old fell to a 4.73 ERA after his first 16 appearances of 2024, but has been dominant since, recording a 0.43 ERA with 31 strikeouts across 21.0 innings.

Spence (5-5) took the loss Sunday against Baltimore, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits and a walk across six innings. He struck out five.

All four runs charged to Spence came in the first inning, when he allowed a solo home run to Anthony Santander and a three-run home run to Heston Kjerstad. Spence was able to settle in afterward, and would have kept the Orioles off the scoreboard if it weren't for a dropped flyball with two outs in the third inning that allowed a run to score. Since the start of June, Spence owns a 5.01 ERA and a 32:6 K:BB across 41.1 innings. He's tentatively scheduled to face the Phillies in Philadelphia next weekend.

Smith (4-1) struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the win Sunday over the Giants.

Smith pitched the sixth inning, and the Guardians took the lead in their half of the frame to make him the pitcher of record. After a strong first two months of the season, Smith has taken a bit of a step back, allowing six runs over his last 14.1 innings since the start of June. He's now at a 2.50 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 53:9 K:BB while adding a save and 13 holds over 39.2 innings.

Clase earned a save over the Giants on Sunday. He gave up a run on one hit in one inning of work.

Clase coughed up an out-of-character run on a Michael Conforto groundout. Clase was still able to close out the 5-4 win and pick up his 27th save of the year. He's given up just four earned runs through 42.1 innings this season, resulting in a 0.85 ERA. Sunday's outing snapped a nine-inning scoreless streak. Clase has converted 14 straight save chances and is 27-for-30 in 2024.

Kopech (2-8) allowed four runs on two hits and two walks against Miami on Sunday. He was charged with a blown save and a loss.

Kopech entered the ninth inning with a 4-3 lead but quickly gave it up on a Josh Bell RBI double. Two batters later, Jake Burger would crush a walk-off three-run homer. Kopech hadn't blown a save chance since June 13 but is now just 8-for-13 in opportunities this season. His ERA jumped to 5.45 with a 51:23 K:BB through 38 innings. John Brebbia could begin to push for more ninth-inning work; he threw a scoreless eighth inning Sunday and has given up just two runs over 16.1 frames since the start of June.

Hader (3-5) took the loss Sunday against the Twins, allowing a solo home run without recording an out.

Hader entered with the game tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth. He served up a solo shot to Christian Vazquez, which gave the Twins the walk-off win. This is the fourth time in six outings that Hader has given up a run -- all of which have been on homers -- though he hasn't taken a blown save since April 2. He's at a 4.15 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 61:11 K:BB through 39 innings while converting 15 of 16 save chances this season. Since his missteps have rarely resulted in trouble so far, Hader's security as the Astros' closer remains high, but his recent struggles with the long ball are reminiscent of his awful second half of 2022, which is at least worth keeping an eye on for fantasy purposes.